Maine Towns Enact, Propose Halts on Data Center Development
The town of Peru, Maine, has enacted a one-year moratorium on data center development to study their impacts on water, electricity, noise, and the environment. Meanwhile, the city of Eastport, Maine, rejected a temporary moratorium but is now considering a proposal to ban large-scale data centers entirely amid ongoing debate about a planned underwater AI center.
The town of Peru, Maine, has joined a growing number of communities in the state to halt data center development. The Peru Select Board recently approved a one-year moratorium, granting the board and the Planning Board time to thoroughly study the potential impacts of data centers. Their focus will include examining effects on local water usage, the electrical grid, noise levels, and the broader environment. Town leaders have clarified that this temporary pause will not affect any existing telecommunication facilities within the town.
Concurrently, the city of Eastport, Maine, is also grappling with data center development. Although the Eastport City Council previously rejected a proposal for a temporary moratorium, it is now moving forward with scheduling a public hearing on a new proposal to ban large-scale data centers. This move comes amidst an ongoing debate in the community concerning a planned underwater AI center, which has sparked significant discussion among residents.